Remember the Sonics! 2009 MLB Playoff Predictions

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It's that time of year again, and Major League Baseball is ripe for predictions! Opening Day is in the books, and Remember the Sonics! is ready to publish its playoff predictions for the 2009 season.

--PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS--

AL WEST - Los Angeles Angels - The Angels' corps group of players is aging and/or departed, but despite a decline in production, no team in the AL West has improved enough to challenge the Angels current reign of terror.

• The Angels may struggle out of the gate, as pitchers John Lackey, Ervin Santana, and Kelvim Escobar are all slated to miss at least the first month of the season, but once these pitchers return the Angels' pitching staff should perform at playoff-caliber.
• 2B Howie Kendrick is one of the true young talents in baseball and could be a future AL Batting Champion
• 1B Kendry Morales is primed for a good 2009 campaign and could be the 2009 AL Breakout Player of the Year.
• While the Angels corps is aging, their outfield is comprised of former All-Stars Torii Hunter, Bobby Abreu, and Vladimir Guerrero. These hitters are easily enough to produce good offensive numbers.

Dark Horse - Texas Rangers

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AL CENTRAL - Minnesota Twins - The Twins feature the most under-rated pitching staff in all of baseball. Most people think of Justin Morneau or Joe Mauer when the Twins come to mind, but their 2008 staff had a post All-Star break ERA under 4.00 and gain the services of Francisco Liriano in 2009.

If their offense can produce even marginal offensive numbers, the Twins could emerge as favorites in the AL Central.

• OF Michael Cuddyer returns to the Twins in 2009 after missing significant portions of 2008 to injury. In Cuddyer's last two healthy seasons he averaged .280AVG, 95R, 20HR, and 95RBI.

• Much of Minnesota's success rides on young talent. Former No.1 overall pick OF Delmon Young (23 years old), OF Carlos Gomez (23 years old) and 2B Alexi Casilla (24 years old) could make the Twins contenders with consistent play.
• Don't use Joe Mauer's absence as an excuse for the Twins to lose. Backup catcher Mike Redmond, a veteran and career .292 hitter, will fill in just fine. Can the Twins make the playoffs without Mauer? No, but if he misses minimal time they can survive.

Dark Horse - Anyone (This Division Has No Standout Teams)

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AL EAST - Boston Red Sox - I actually threw up in my mouth a little when I wrote this, but even I can't ignore the mass amount of talent being stockpiled in Boston.

In 2003 I hated the Red Sox for winning the Yankee-Way (Buying Talent from Free Agency), but not much of their 2003 championship team remains. Instead, there is a great amount of Boston-bred talent—maybe enough to win a championship.

• Boston has strengthened its lineup via farm system in the last six years. 2B Dustin Pedroia, 1B Kevin Youkilis, OF Jacoby Ellsbury, SS Jed Lowrie, SP Justin Masterson, SP Jon Lester, and RP Jonathan Papelbon were all drafted post-2002.

• Boston also features one of the deepest rotations in baseball, headlined by All-Stars Josh Beckett and Daisuke Matsuzaka. Not to mention that John Smoltz joins the rotation in June...
• The Red Sox welcome back 3B Mike Lowell in 2009. Lowell played only 34 games post All-Star break last year.

Next In Line - New York Yankees

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AL WILD CARD - New York Yankees - Money can't buy you love, but history shows it can buy an awful lot of World Series Titles. The Yankees went on an anti-recession spending spree this offseason, signing pitchers CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, as well as switch-hitting 1B Mark Teixeira.

Despite Alex Rodriguez missing the first few months of the season, the Yankees should (key word: should) win at least 90 games and compete for the AL East crown.

• The Yankees are known for big-name hitters crushing the ball and big-name pitchers falling apart (think El Duque, Pavano, the Unit, etc.). This year could be different, however, as the Yankees could feature one of the best rotations on all of baseball: C.C. Sabathia, Chien-Mien Wang, A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettite, and Joba Chamberlain.

• The most important part of the Yankees' season will be April-May. If the Yankees can survive without A-Rod in a brutal AL East, expect them to compete during the summer and stretch run.
• Get to know Brett Gardner. He is one of the few home-grown Yankee talents, and has the speed/defensive skills to make a niche for himself in the bigs. He was good enough to beat out Xavier Nady for an outfield spot and bump Johnny Damon to left field.

Next In Line - Tampa Bay Rays (translation: the Wild Card will be 2nd place in the AL East)

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